KITSUNE

In Japanese folklore, Kitsune (literally the Japanese word for fox) are intelligent foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others – as foxes in folklore often do – other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.

Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has – they may have as many as nine – the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity.

Conversely foxes were often seen as "witch animals", especially during the superstitious Edo period (1603–1867), and were thought of as goblins who could not be trusted (similar to some badgers and cats).[1]

Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of yōkai. The word kitsune is sometimes translated as 'fox spirit', which is actually a broader folkloric category. This does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes were believed to gain supernatural abilities.

There are two common classifications of kitsune:

The zenko (literally 'good foxes') are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes in English.

On the other hand, the yako (literally 'field foxes', also called nogitsune) tend to be mischievous or even malicious

Kitsune have as many as nine tails.

Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful Kitsune; in fact, some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folktales. These kyūbi no kitsune (nine-tailed foxes) gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales credit them with infinite wisdom (omniscience). After reaching 1,000 years of age and gaining its ninth tail, a kitsune turns a white or golden color, becoming a tenko ('heavenly/celestial fox'), the most powerful form of the kitsune, and then ascends to the heavens.

📚 Explore more of the Mystical Creatures series here: Dive into the Enchanted Realms of Mythology

Comments

Jörmungandr: The Midgard Serpent

Awe-Inspiring Appearance Physical Form: Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, is a colossal sea serpent that encircles the entire world. His size is beyond comprehension—so vast that he is said to be able to grasp his own tail in his mouth, forming a complete loop around the Earth. His scales are as hard as iron, gleaming with a dark, greenish sheen, and are so tightly packed that they form an almost impenetrable armor. Head and Fangs: Jörmungandr's head is as large as a mountain, with a wide, gaping maw filled with rows of jagged, sword-like fangs capable of crushing ships and entire fleets in a single bite. His eyes are enormous, glowing with a malevolent, deep red or yellow light, giving him an aura of ancient, malevolent intelligence. His tongue is long and forked, flicking out to taste the air, sensing the world around him. Body and Scales: Jörmungandr’s body is serpentine and seemingly endless, coiling through the deepest oceans and stretching across the entir...

ONI (Demon)

Oni (鬼 Demon?) is a common word in modern Japanese for wild-type, beast-men that are usually youkai with a fierce, ferocious appearance. Demons are a common theme in Japanese art and literature. The image of Japanese demons is often taken from Chinese demons (Journey to the West) such as Kim Giac, Ngan Giac, or Niu Ma Vuong. Descriptions of demons vary, but usually they have a fierce, hideous appearance, with claws, and sharp horns on their heads. They often wear tiger skins, loincloths holding a weapon called Kanabou (wolf tooth mace). The Oni demon has the face of someone from hell, which has long been associated with the image of the Bull Demon King. It has bulging eyes and very long horns accompanied by a wicked smile with two pairs of sharp fangs. Hair is always left loose. They usually have red, blue or black bodies. The Oni demon has a background that often wraps around a tiger skin, wielding iron spikes to break people's heads. Completely silent and devilish. Oni are essent...

XIANGLIU

Xiangliu is a flying snake, with nine heads, and eats countless people. It is the courtiers of Gonggong, the ancient water god. It was so massive that it could eat nine mountains at once. It constantly vomits venom and forms a foul-smelling swamp with a bitter taste and the smell can even kill passing birds and beasts. Xiangliu has devastated ecosystems everywhere it goes. It was so greedy that all nine heads ate at the same time. Wherever he rested or breathed (or his tongue touched) became bogged down with poisonous bitter water, devoid of human and animal life. Together with Gonggong, it caused floods that harmed people. Xiangyou ate soil on the river banks everywhere, causing the floods on the river to continue overflowing, overflowing everywhere and engulfing the patches of earth. Yu who is appointed to manage the incoming water. Gonggong was unable to defeat Yu and was brutally imprisoned in exile. Xiangliu inherits Gonggong's legacy and continues to behave. Yu killed Xiangl...

XUANWU (Black Tortoise /Northern - Black – Water /The Four Great God Beasts)

Origin: China The four great beasts are what modern people call Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu. They are actually not divine beasts, but gods. In ancient times, they were also known as the four spirits of the sky. They are the product of the ancient star worship. The four beasts are integrated into the five elements and directions, represented by different colors: Eastern blue is wood, western white is gold, southern red is fire, northern black is water, and central yellow is soil. According to legend, Xuanwu was born in the early days of the universe. large Tortoise, surrounded by a snake. Xuanwu absorbed chaotic aura so he brought great power, to split mountains, to open the land. Xuanwul is a very ancient Chinese god. It is a god of Snake god and Tortoise Sprits, with a Tortoise -like body but surrounded by a snake. The snake itself is a symbol of fertility and proliferation, considered by the ancients as a symbol of mating, reproduction and reproduction of men and women. Wher...

🚀 Announcing New Ebook Collections: Discover the Mystical Creatures Series! 🌟

🌟 Dear Mythology Enthusiasts and Fantasy Lovers, I am beyond thrilled to unveil the Mystical Creatures series—a collection of mythological wonders that explores the most powerful, awe-inspiring beings from every corner of the world. From ancient serpents to mighty giants, each book delves into the legends and lore that have shaped civilizations and inspired countless stories. Join me on this unforgettable journey! 📚 Mystical Creatures Series Overview : 🐉 1. Rise of the Dragon Lords: A Ranked Journey Through Mythical Serpents and Guardians In Rise of the Dragon Lords , you will embark on a thrilling adventure to uncover the most fearsome dragons and serpents of myth. From the celestial dragons that guard the heavens in the East to the fiery protectors of the West, this book offers a fascinating insight into their legends and untold stories. Discover their origins, powers, and the battles that have defined them as the ultimate guardians of both realms. Price : $15 📖 Kobo Books: Rise...

Long (Chinese dragon)

Character Profile Name Long Other names Loong, lung, Oriental dragon, Eastern dragon, Chinese dragon Type/Species Snake-like dragon, hybrid creature, scaly creature, the god Size Various sizes from large to extremely giant Capacity Individual longs will possess one or more of the following abilities: Control rain, water, wind, thunder, fire, wood, ground, metal… Color Each individual will have different colors, such as: white, black, red, blue, yellow... Subtype(s) Unknown Parents Long Children Long, jiaolong… Activity cycle Unknown Diet Unknown Origin Chinese mythology Terrain The water, the caves, the sky, the mountains The Chinese dragon, also known as the loong, long or lung (Chinese: 龍 / 龙), is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture at large. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. They traditionally symbolize potent ...

FENGHUANG (Chinese phoenix)

Origin: China Fenghuang were originally the mythological birds of the East Asian people influenced by Chinese civilization. It is a ruling animal above all other birds. Previously, the male was called Feng and the female was called Huang, but today, the distinction between male and female has almost disappeared and Feng and Huang have been mixed together into a female entity. is Fenghuang, so that it can pair with the Dragon, which is the animal of masculinity. The Han people often use the expression "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of their racial identity. In the Western world, such as English speakers, call it Chinese phoenix Phoenix bird is described with the following characteristics: chicken head, swallow jaw, snake neck, turtle back, peacock tail, 5-color wings and 6 meters high. It represents six celestial bodies that today can be understood roughly as: head is heaven, eyes are sun, back is moon, wings are wind, feet are earth and tail are planets. Its feathers r...

Leviathan: The Abyssal Sovereign of Chaos

Formidable Appearance Physical Form: Leviathan is a colossal sea serpent, a creature of such immense size and power that it is said to rule the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. His body is long and serpentine, stretching for miles beneath the waves, with scales that are as hard as armor and as dark as the midnight sea. These scales shimmer with an eerie, iridescent glow, reflecting the faintest light in shades of deep blue, green, and black, making him nearly invisible in the abyssal depths. Head and Fangs: Leviathan’s head is monstrous, with a wide, gaping maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, each as long as a spear and capable of tearing through ships and whales alike. His eyes are enormous, glowing like molten gold or burning coals, filled with ancient, malevolent intelligence. His jaws are strong enough to crush mountains, and his tongue is forked and whip-like, tasting the fear of those who dare to approach him. Body and Scales: His body is covered in impenetrable ...

Falak: The Enigmatic Guardian of the Abyss

Majestic Appearance - Physical Form and Body: Falak is a mythical creature from Islamic cosmology, often depicted as a colossal serpent or dragon that dwells at the bottom of the cosmic abyss, beneath the lowest of the seven earths. The body of Falak is described as being unimaginably vast, stretching across the entirety of the underworld. Its scales are said to be as hard as diamonds, shimmering in dark, ominous hues that reflect the creature’s ancient and terrifying nature. These scales are nearly impenetrable, making Falak invulnerable to any form of physical attack. The sheer size of Falak is incomprehensible, with its body coiled endlessly within the abyss, symbolizing the boundless nature of the chaos it contains. - Head, Eyes, and Fangs: The head of Falak is often described as being massive and serpentine, with a mouth large enough to swallow entire worlds. Its eyes are said to glow with a malevolent fire, usually depicted in shades of red or yellow, capable of piercing thro...

Yong (Mireu)

Character Profile Name Yong Other names Mireu , ryong Type/Species Snake-like dragon, hybrid creature, scaly creature, the god. Size Huge Capacity Bringing rain and cloud Color blue, red, yellow, green, or brown Subtype(s) Yong wang Parents Unknown Children Eggs Activity cycle Unknown Diet Mammals Origin Korean mythology Terrain The water A sky dragon, essentially the same as the Chinese lóng. Like the lóng, yong and the other Korean dragons are associated with water and weather. In pure Korean, it is also known as ‘mireu’. Appearance: In Korean, dragons are known as “yong” or “ryong.” In appearance, they can have deer antlers, a snake belly, a fish tail, claws, and whiskers. They can also be a number of colours like blue, red, yellow, green, or brown. The Korean Yong is a long thin dragon making it a subspecies of the Asian Long. They are narrower and longer than Chinese Long and can also be distinguished by having 4 toes re...

Fantastic Beasts

Search This Blog